Wall and Cousins' Impact will Remain With Program

Antoine Walker, Walter McCarty, Rodrick Rhodes, and Mark Pope. Talk about a blast from the past. When was the last time we heard or seen any of these guys around Rupp or Lexington? Their own senior day games?

Nothing against those guys, they all wore the Blue and White for at least three years before moving on to the NBA and they all had good careers at Kentucky. The question I have for you today is this: would you rather have a good player stay at Kentucky and contribute for three or four years and then never hear or see from him ever again, or would you take John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins for one year on the court with their continued support of the program for the rest of their young lives?

I'd take Cousins and Wall as lifelong supporters, even if they were only on the court for one season. After Wall was named MVP of the NBA Summer League and Cousins was named the Top Rookie Performer, the sensational duo (as well as Patrick Patterson and Eric Bledsoe)returned to Lexington this week for John Calipari's Pro Camp. They all spoke of how great their time was at Kentucky and how much they miss it and how much they look forward to returning here as often as they can.

I know it's only a few months from last May when these four young men finished up classes and left Lexington, but I genuinely believe it when DeMarcus Cousins calls Kentucky his home and I truly believe that John Wall is sincere when he says he dreams of the day that he'll be chosen to do the "Y" at Rupp Arena. Wall and Cousins will remain great representatives for this program. They will come back and scrimmage and help out
with our current players in the summer (by the way, I hear Brandon Knight held his own against John Wall...and Enes too against Cousins!). But most importantly, they'll be tremendous recruiting assets for years to come.

As two of the biggest rising stars in the NBA, these two phenoms will impact Kentucky basketball for much longer than just one season and likely longer than just 4 years. Coach Cal will no longer need Lebron James to sell the program to recruits. Now he'll be able to use his own UK guys. Their impact in Lexington will remain. I'd take these guys over almost any 4 year player, because when Wall and Cousins left Lexington, they never really left. Their heart remains here and they'll continue to support the Big Blue.

(Photo courtesy of Kentucky.com)

Since I last posted...

UK has made history with 5 NBA First Round Draft Picks in the same year. By now, I'm sure you know the teams, the players, and all the headlines that were made. I don't think it was the "greatest day in the history of Kentucky basketball" as evidenced by taking me so long to post anything about it, however, it is special. I understand what Calipari meant by that statement, even if he was a little caught up in the moment. This is a players first program, and it is players that will win Championships for us at Kentucky in due time.

However, giving hope to families and making kids dreams/careers come true might be more important in the grand scheme of things than winning a title. Championships are an easy choice between the two for fans, the state, and the University...but lets be honest with ourselves, would Eric Bledsoe rather have won a championship and then not get drafted and live on the streets the rest of his life? Look, these kids wanted a Championship really bad and they came short. They were all devastated after the WV loss, but in the long run things went right for these kids and it's a reason to celebrate. Congrats to all five of them!

In other news...

• Daniel Orton applogizes to UK fans via twitter.

• Josh Harrelson also tweets that he "has never played against anyone as good" as Enes Kanter.

That's a pretty bold statement considering a year ago he was playing pick up games matched up against Cousins, Patterson, and Orton (3 first round draft picks).

And the saddest news surrounding the program in quite some time comes tonight. Terri Krebs, the mother of UK's Mark Krebs, has passed away. My thoughts and prayers (as well as all of Big Blue Nation, I am sure) are with Mark and his family. Krebs was an absolute class act and a great representative of the program. He walked on for 4 years, played for 3 different coaches (which is very difficult for a walk-on to do), was an Academic All-American, and had a love for UK Basketball as much as anyone you will ever meet. I wish Mark the very best and pray that he gets through this difficult time.

Fans' criticism of Orton is fair. Cousins' reputation is not.

Daniel Orton could be a steal in this Thursday's NBA Draft as a late 1st round pick. Orton is a kid who has played behind the likes of Blake Griffin in high school and DeMarcus Cousins in college. He's competed with two of the best big men the game will see in years on a daily basis in practices. He could also be the guy to make history for the Cats, as he is projected to be the record breaking fifth 1st round pick in the draft from the same school. Not even the '96 Cats put 5 players into the 1st round of the draft in one year.

He might also be Calipari's biggest recruiting tool, even more so than top picks like John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Rose, and Tyreke Evans. Why? Because what other coach in the country can tell a kid that he can sit on the bench and average 3 points a game and be a first round pick after ONE year? The fact that 3 points per game in limited action was enough for Orton to probably be picked in the first round after just one year begs the question of how high he could have been picked if he stayed just two or three years at Kentucky. The sky could have really been the limit. I don't think it would have been impossible at all for him to become a Top 5 pick or maybe even the #1 overall pick after another year or two if he had stayed and proven himself with quality minutes alongside Enes Kanter and Terrence Jones.

He could have definitely benefited from another year, but possibly Orton was concerned about finding himself on the bench again with two more super talented freshman big guys coming in? Maybe he thought that if he was going to have to fight for playing time in either situation, he might as well be getting paid for it in the NBA. That is a point of view from Orton that I can understand. Especially considering that he originally came to Kentucky to be a star player under Billy Gillispie until Cal came in and brought along DeMarcus Cousins. He still decided to stay at Kentucky through it all and become a role player turned into an NBA first round pick, a decision that I'm sure he feels very comfortable with.

The success of Orton and point guard Eric Bledsoe, who came to UK despite the fact that John Wall already signed his letter of intent to play here, will help Calipari continue to convince kids that they should come and be a role player at UK instead of being a star somewhere else. For the above reason that his success makes him a huge recruiting tool for UK and because I think Daniel really is deep down a good kid, I hope that he has great success in the NBA and I genuinely wish him the absolute best. However, I believe the national media and NBA GM's are seemingly giving Daniel a free pass on character issues during his time at UK, while unfairly placing labels on his other teammates, mainly DeMarcus Cousins.

I don't blame Orton for leaving after a year and I understand his decision, just as I do for the other four Cats' that are leaving early. However, he did not live up to his end of the bargain on his commitment to UK. Competing daily with DeMarcus Cousins in practice, working out with John Calipari for a year, and playing on the nation's most talented and nationally recognizable
basketball team are reasons why Daniel is in the current position he is in. He owed it to Calipari and Kentucky to stick around for an extra month and finish up his 2nd semester grades to not hurt the program's APR ranking and team GPA.

Instead, Daniel selfishly left his teammates behind in Lexington and flew out to California instead of finishing his 2nd semester classes. If Orton had done what he was supposed to finish up in the classroom, the Cats would have had an exceptional improvement from the previous semester on their team GPA and would be at no risk of an APR hit in the future, which could eventually cost UK scholarships, if another situation like this occurs again. The most disappointing thing about all of this is that Daniel is a smart, well spoken kid. He has a lot of academic potential and made the decision that an education will not serve him any good throughout his life. On the other hand, his teammates that are projected higher than him in the draft all made the decision to stick around and finish strong in the classroom, not only for the good of the program, but also to open the doors to come back and finish up a degree someday as Rajon Rondo and Jodie Meeks are currently doing during the off-season.

John Wall, the almost certain #1 pick on Thursday, finished with the team's highest GPA and plans to eventually earn his degree despite being the most gifted point guard the game has seen in possibly a decade. Another probable Top 10 pick, Patrick Patterson, earned his diploma after just three years on campus. Bledsoe and Cousins, whom both lack the academic potential as Daniel Orton seems to have, still kept their commitment to the school and finished up classes, even though they may not ever return to school again. Cousins, for sure, probably won't ever need to return to school as he possesses the size and skill to play many years in the NBA. John Wall doesn't have a need to return either, but wants to. Bledsoe probably simply doesn't have the smarts to stick around and work towards a degree. Orton is less talented than all of his teammates entering the draft and very well may need to come back to school someday. His 0.0 GPA last semester could come back haunt him if he ever has to make that decision.

The way Orton left Kentucky and the sound of jealousy that comes out of his mouth when asked about teammate DeMarcus Cousins, combined with the incident of Orton actually leaving the UK bench and walking into the locker room in the middle of a game this season because of frustration over being taken out and put back onto the bench, are justifiable reasons for more scrutiny and criticism of Daniel as teams ponder drafting him or not. Orton talks smooth, he's intelligent and very well spoken, and seems like a good guy. While Cousins has a perception problem because he isn't as well spoken, wears a headband, has tattoos, and plays like a monster on the court. Daniel just likes dressing up as a Power Ranger from time to time in Wildcat Lodge.

Despite the fact that Orton has a good sense of humor highlighted in the picture to the right with DeMarcus, the reality is that he is a riskier pick than Cousins, even though the perception seems to be the opposite. He's not just more of a risk because of his physical ability is not as strong as Cousins, but because he has a bit of an attitude problem that may not be worth dealing with. While in Cousins' case, even if he was a head case (and his time at UK proved nothing but the opposite), his talent alone would make him worth taking. When fans criticized Orton for the way that he had left, it was very fair criticism (for the most part), even though the media made all UK fans out to be villains. I wish all UK players the best in this Thursday's draft and am rooting for Daniel to prove me wrong, just like DeMarcus has proved many wrong all year in Lexington. I just wish the media would get off of Cousins' back, who has done everything the right way at UK, and give a little bit of fair criticism where it's actually deserved.

Is Calipari Good for Kentucky?

A lot has been going on around Big Blue Nation the last couple of weeks. UK fans experienced disappointment over recruiting commitments for the first time in the Calipari era when CJ Leslie, Terrence Jones (supposedly), and Marcus Thornton have all decided to play their college basketball somewhere else. Calipari has offered a walk-on spot for West Jessamine star point guard, Jarrod Polson, and is currently trying to put the finishing touches on another great recruiting class at UK. Calipari also discussed with the press last week about the possibility of starting up a JV team at UK to allow more Kentucky kids the opportunity to suit up for the Blue and White.

In addition to the disappointing recruiting commitments more bad news came out last week when an article was written in the Lexington Herald Leader announcing that the UK men's basketball team compiled a team GPA of only 2.0, the worst since 2002 and currently the lowest of any sports program at UK. Then, the very next day, Yahoo reported that Calipari was interested in the opening head coaching job with the Chicago Bulls and not soon after that it was announced of UK's intention to restructure Calipari's contract to try to keep the coach in Lexington until he retires. In the last couple of days, more disappointing (but not surprising) news came out that Daniel Orton has hired an agent and Eric Bledsoe definitely intends to stay in the draft barring any major injury during NBA workouts. Unless Cal signs another big man, a lot more will be asked of Josh Harrelson next year as he and incoming blue chip Center, Enes Kanter, will be the only two post players on the roster.

Still, through all of the mostly negative news that has surrounded the program in the last couple of weeks, the Cats are still bringing in a top 5 recruiting class next year and have an even better class coming into the program in 2012. The team's GPA should certainly improve next season with the additions of Brandon Knight and Enes Kanter, whom are both very well known to be exceptional students. And Calipari, for now, is still in Lexington and he says he's happy here and doesn't even want a raise. I wouldn't be suprised to see Coach Cal make the move to the NBA down the road if the PERFECT situation presents itself with a playoff calibur team with Lebron James on the roster, and perhaps one of his former players such as Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, John Wall, or DeMarcus Cousins as well. I do think Cal is still intigued by having success in the NBA, but I also believe he has a desire to get to another Final Four and ultimately win a National Championship at Kentucky before he gives the NBA a second shot. If he is able to do that, I don't think anyone would be dissapointed in Coach Cal, just as long as he doesn't end up on Louisville's sidelines any time soon.

Just as Coach Cal explained on his Twitter last week, there will never be any more rumors about him going to another school because he now has the best college job, but his name will always be linked to NBA job openings, whether he is actually interested or not, and that is a good problem for Kentucky to have. It's a problem that nobody had to worry about when Billy Gillispie was on the sidelines for 2 short and miserable seasons and it's only a problem that elite programs and coaches have to deal with. Kentucky is clearly once again at an elite level, but some critics will beg the question if it is really worth it in spite of all the "one and dones", occasional academic shortcomings (yes- occassional; just look at his career graduation rates at Memphis and UMass), and the mention of Calipari's name for virtually every NBA job opening.

ESPN's SportsNation poll this week asked if John Calipari was good for the University of Kentucky. Cal's critics can be very loud, often biased (see Pat Forde), and almost always obnoxious (Louisville fans). On a national level, however, the SportsNation poll revealed that nearly 70% of sports fans accross the nation believe that Calipari is good for Kentucky and only two states- Kansas and North Carolina (not surprisingly), thought otherwise. Despite what your annoying co-worker from Louisville may tell you on a consistant basis, most other fans would love Coach Calipari coaching their team.

Just about every fan base in America would openly welcome superstars like John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, even if only for a year. They also wouldn't mind NBA rumors surrounding their head coach if it meant they were competing for National Championships every year, and most fans certainly wouldn't mind if their team went through a semester or two with a "C" average. The critics of Calipari can be very loud and annoying to deal with, but most of them would love to have Cal and all the "problems" associated with being an elite program with elite players. We're very lucky and proud to have Coach Calipari and it's just amazing to sit back and think about everything that has transpired with this program in the past year.

Yes, John Calipari is good for the University of Kentucky and we are extremely lucky to have him. He not only is a winner on the court, but he also connects with the fans off of it and understands everything that is expected of him as the head basketball coach at UK.

He's the perfect man for the job, and to quote Billy Gillsipie- "That's just not a very good question".

Official Press Release on 5 UK Players Entering the NBA Draft

(Photo courtesy of UKathletics.com)

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky freshmen Eric Bledsoe, DeMarcus Cousins, Daniel Orton and John Wall and junior Patrick Patterson will enter their names in this year’s NBA Draft. All five players are projected as first-round picks.

It marks the second straight season a UK player has declared early for the draft. All-American Jodie Meeks decided to forego his senior season last year to turn pro.

Bledsoe averaged 11.3 ppg while hitting 49 three-pointers and shooting 38 percent from behind the line in his freshman campaign. Bledsoe finished sixth on UK’s all-time freshman scoring list (419), second on the three-point field goals made list (49) and fourth on the freshman assist list (107).

“I never thought I’d be in this position after one year,” Bledsoe said. “Coach Cal pushed us all to be the best we could be and he believes I’m prepared to take my game to the next level. I want to thank the fans for all their support this year.”

Cousins was second on the team in scoring, averaging 15.1 ppg while posting a team-best 9.8 rpg average, all in only 23.5 minutes per game. He destroyed the UK freshman rebounding record by nearly 100 rebounds and scored the second-most points by a UK freshman, behind teammate John Wall.

The Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year also led the Wildcats in double-doubles this season with 20, the most by a UK player since 1973 and the fourth most in a season in Kentucky basketball history.

“Coach challenged me to grow on and off the court this season,” Cousins said. “I believe my game expanded along with my maturity. This year was the most fun I’ve ever had playing basketball and a lot of it had to do with the support I got from our fans.”

Orton served as the Wildcats’ sixth man this season and finished averaging 3.4 points and 3.3 rebounds. He was second on the team in blocked shots with 53 and ranked eighth in the SEC in blocks per game (1.4).

“Being at Kentucky allowed me to play with some of the most talented players in the country,” Orton said. “Battling with DeMarcus (Cousins) and Patrick (Patterson) every day helped improve my game. I want to thank the coaching staff for helping put me in a position to be drafted this year.”

Patterson ranked second in the SEC and 12th nationally in field goal percentage (.575). He recorded nine double-doubles this season, fourth most in the SEC, and 11 double-digit rebounding performances. He finished his junior season ranked 13th on Kentucky’s all-time scoring list (1,564) and sixth on Kentucky’s career double-double list with 30.

“I want to thank the fans who have supported me all three years,” Patterson said. “I also want to thank the coaches for putting me in a position to showcase other parts of my game as well as my versatility. Lexington and UK will always be a special place to me.”

Wall led the Wildcats in scoring (16.6), assists (6.5) and steals (1.8) while setting the school single-season assist record with 241. The Adolph Rupp National Player of the Year recorded five double-doubles on the season, three in points and assists, and two in points and rebounds, making him the first player in UK history to record double-doubles in points and rebounds and points and assists.

“I’m not the same player as when I arrived at UK,” Wall said. “I believe I’m ready for the next challenge as Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans were the last two years under Coach Cal. I want to thank my teammates and the fans for all their support this year. I love them.”

“I’ve spoken with all five guys concerning the NBA and have encouraged them to put their names in the draft,” UK head coach John Calipari said. “They’ve all met individually with our compliance office to make sure they have a full understanding of eligibility rules and academic responsibilities. I’m so proud of these five young men, with everything they did for us on the court and the way they represented us off of it.

“It’s extremely unusual for four freshmen from the same team to have this opportunity, but it’s my job as a coach to prepare these young men for such opportunities.”

Celebrate, take it in, enjoy...and let's win 6 more.

(Photo courtesy of ESPN.com)

• That was one of the greatest Kentucky games ever played
• It's definitely a time to celebrate for Big Blue Nation, but I LOVE the fact that the nets were not cut down.
• We want to win 6 more, than we'll cut down some nets.
• Don't tell me that one and done players don't care.
• I don't need to write a story- we all saw what happened.

1. John Wall's steal in the corner and quick basket cut the lead down to 1 with 40 seconds to go.
2. MSU makes 2 free throws to make it a three point game.
3. MSU purposely fouls before Bledsoe can throw up a three to tie it.
4. Bledsoe makes the first shot, misses 2nd on purpose.
5. Rebound Kentucky, three no good by Wall, rebound Cousins, he puts it up....OVERTIME!
6. Wall scores 7 points in OT, including a circus shot behind the 3 point line.
7. Cats win 26th SEC Tournament Title and 1st since 2004.

ENJOY it, Big Blue Nation. Don't worry about what happens next until about an hour from now when the pairings are announced. THEN, we'll dissect the brackets and talk about the road to Kentucky's 8th National Championship.

SEC Coach of the Year is...who? Say that again?

As expected, John Wall won SEC Player of the Year yesterday and Demarcus Cousins won SEC Freshman of the Year. Patrick Patterson made the All-SEC 1ST Team, while Eric Bledsoe made the All-Freshman team.

But the SEC Coach of the Year selection is just simply, laughable. Yahoo's Jeff Eisenburg ponders the question: "How did this man not win SEC Coach of the Year?"

Eisenburg was right on. There's no logical explaination other than the SEC Coaches simply did not want Calipari to win. It's hard to imagine that a group of college basketball head coaches could be this silly and immature. Hatred, envy, and jealousy have never been more obvious. But considering that Billy Gillipsie won this award in his first year at Kentucky, it just goes to show how insignificant this really is.

And if the SEC Coaches think they're sticking it to Kentucky and Calipari- they couldn't be more wrong. UK fans LOVE IT when things like this happen because it makes it so obviously transparent that we are hated. When we're hated, things are going very well in Big Blue Nation.

Here's Boogie's thoughts:

Cats silence critics, clinch 44th SEC Title.

After an abysmal 2-22 from 3 point range Saturday at Tennessee, the Cats spent extra time in the gym this week working on outside shooting and apparently it paid off. The Cats hit 8 threes tonight, and silenced the doubters that they didn't have the shooters to make a deep run in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Leading the way for the Cats behind the arc was John Wall (3-5) and Darnell Dodson (3-6). Wall also led the team it total scoring with 24 points while Patrick Patterson added another double double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Another weak spot of Saturday's performance was bench scoring. The Cats only had 5 points off the bench against the Vols, today they had 24. Dodson scored 11, Liggins was once again his usual scrappy self with 5 gritty points off the bench along with a steal. Orton added 4 points and a block, and even Perry Stevenson and Ramon Harris each added 2 points. Harris was awarded 11 minutes of play and contributed with 2 offensive rebounds and three assists as well as his 2 points- talk about a guy who knows his role and thrives with it. Tonight was, perhaps, the best overall TEAM win of the entire season. In a night that DeMarcus Cousins had only 6 points and 4 rebounds, everyone else stepped up and played brilliantly TOGETHER.


It was also a great team defensive effort. The Cats suffocating defense totaled up 8 steals and 14 blocks and created plenty of offense as they put on a clinic in points off turnovers with one of the most fast-paced highlight packed games of the season. Defense, transition offense, bench scoring, and three point shooting all were bright spots for the Cats tonight as they ended Georgia's 4 game conference home winning streak and clinched at least a share for the school's 44th SEC Championship.

On Sunday, Seniors' Mark Krebs, Perry Stevenson, and Ramon Harris will be honored on Senior Day against Florida. With a win, the Cats win the SEC Title outright. It will also likely be the last game for three of the most talented players to ever wear the blue and white, and it is rumored that Patrick Patterson (who is academically a senior and graduating this semester) will also be honored. Get your tissue's ready, it's going to be a sad but surely memorable afternoon in Rupp as 24,000 will sing "My Old Kentucky Home" one last time in this storybook season.

Cousins says, "CALL ME!"

All week long, DeMarcus Cousins received thousands of racist text messages and phone calls from Mississippi State students and fans. Cousins, who had a reputation as a player that could easily lose his temper, stayed cool and composed throughout the heat of a battle in a rowdy crowd in the deep south. Once again, the trend continues of every team's fans absolutely bringing their loudest and largest crowds for when the Cats come to town but unfortunately this time, it got out of hand.

Cousins stayed composed, while MSU fans threw bottles on the court and an MSU player even refused to shake his hand. Cousins just kept walking and showed a lot of class and maturity tonight. I'm not wanting to teach a history lesson here, but I've got to throw this out there- you witnessed tonight why Adolph Rupp was not able to bring African American players to Kentucky for so many years. If it's like this in Starkville in 2010, imagine what it would have been like in the 1950's and 60's.

Moving on- THREE players scored in double figures tonight for the Cats (Wall, Cousins, and Patterson).

Wall, our point guard, out-rebounded Jarvis Vernardo AND was only two assists away from a triple double. Wall's line tonight was 18 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks and was perhaps his best all-around game as a Wildcat. Patterson also stepped up and had the huge game that we had been waiting for and had been accustomed to seeing in his first two seasons in Lexington. Patrick had 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks; however, tonight- the center of attention was DeMarcus "Boogie" Cousins. Everyone wanted to see how "Big Cuz" would respond to the fans. Boogie was calm, cool, and collective tonight with 19 points and 14 rebounds. The only response, besides his play, that Cousins showed was a simple gesture with two words to the fans: "CALL ME!". A simple hand motion known as "the John Wall dance" has become a sensation in the Commonwealth, and Cousins' small gesture to the record setting crowd at MSU will also make its own mark on what has become a DREAM SEASON in Lexington thus far.

Other Notes and Observations:

• DeAndre Liggins continues to earn the trust of John Calipari. He played 25 minutes tonight and was on the floor at the end of regulation and throughout the entire overtime period. His three point shot with 2:44 left in the game with the Cats down 7 points was EPIC! DeAndre now has a major role on this team as not only one of the best hustlers, but one of the best shooters.
• Cousins continues to lead the nation in points and rebounds per minute, and it's not even close. The Cats got some calls down the stretch, but it went both ways the entire game. Cousins continues NOT to get the fouls called against him, but found himself in foul trouble most of the game. He scored his 19 points and 14 rebounds in 30 minutes of play and only 25 minutes in regulation.
• Patterson was able to step up in Cousins' absence. Unfortunately during that same stretch, Daniel Orton was offensively ineffective tonight as he went 1-4 from the field and 0-1 from the free throw line.
• Darius Miller's 9 points off the bench deserves mention and cannot be forgot in a close battle like tonight.

But without a doubt, this night belonged to DeMarcus Cousins, who purposely did not change his phone number this week because he wanted to hear what MSU fans had to say to him AFTER the game. Cousins is starting to be a fan favorite in the Commonwealth in what truly has become a dream season in Lexington!

Reece Davis Reflects on Gameday

To highlight the interview, Reece says that he admits that most of the fans did not show up to see their show, but to exhibit their passion to the rest of the country, "which quite frankly, is simply unmatched," he says. He also goes on to say that he usually doesn't like to rank Gameday appearances because he doesn't want it to get on the Internet and be a shot against other schools, but in this case, he has not experienced anything like he did in Lexington on Saturday. When he looks back on his entire career, Reece ranks Saturday's Gameday Show as possibly the most incredible thing he's ever been a part of. Reece is one of the few employees of the Worldwide Leader of Sports that truly understands and appreciates college basketball's greatest program and fan base.



Be sure to check back with us here at Wildcat Wrap as we "Wrap up" tomorrow night's battle with Mississippi State in Starkville. Just like the Wall/Downey matchup a few weeks ago, the Jarvis Vernardo matchup with Cousins and Patterson in the post will be another one to take a close look at. One of the few dark spots in the Tennessee win was a single digit performance by Cousins, ending his seven game streak of putting up a "Double-Double". It was Cousins' worst game of the season and he'll need to rebound from it against the nations best shot blocker on Tuesday. If it's another quiet game for Cousins, than Bledsoe and Wall might have to take over again.

DeMarcus Cousins: most dominant SEC big man since...Shaquille O'Neal.

(http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/c1XcxrtUvo_/Long+Beach+v+Kentucky)

Charlie's post got me thinking, and if Patrick Patterson is even remotely considered a role player, than exactly how dominant does that make DeMarcus Cousins? There isn't another big man in the country that could play on the same team as Patterson and make Patrick look like a role player, because Patterson simply isn't or wouldn't be a role player on any other college team except this one. Patterson is an All-American type player and would be putting up some of the best numbers in the country (like he did the last 2 seasons) if he had played on just about any other team. Cousins has had seven straight double double's and all of a sudden has challenged John Wall for National Player of the Year and the #1 pick in next year's NBA Draft. There has never been 2 players from the same school get selected with the top two picks, but it might just happen this year with Wall and Cousins. Only a situation like this could make Patterson look like a role player, which indeed he is, on this team- and on this team only.

Cousins has been so dominant on the boards and in the post that I believe it would be a greater loss if he were to be injured than losing John Wall. Wall is a playmaker and a primetime clutch performer when the game is on the line, but when you need consistent points and rebounds and dominance in the paint throughout the course of a game, Cousins is our most overall dominant performer. Eric Bledsoe can do a lot of the same things on the court that John Wall can, and even though Patrick Patterson is one of the best post players in the country and reserve Daniel Orton would be the starting Center on 95% of every roster in the nation, they still don't impact the game as much as Cousins does, which says a lot. Cousins' only issue is getting in foul trouble, and some say his temper is a problem, too, but it has been less of a problem as the season has matured even though he continues to get physical and verbal abuse from almost every team he faces. His points and rebounds per minute is by far the most impressive in the nation and the numbers compare to great college big men such as Kenyon Martin, Blake Griffin, and Tim Duncan (and you can find the numbers on KSR). You probably have to go back as far as Shaquille O'Neal at LSU to find a more dominant post player in the SEC.

If Cousins stays out of foul trouble and plays for 35+ minutes, than you can count on Kentucky having a comfortable lead without even having to rely on John Wall's last minute heroics. Wall can save the day, but the game is never even in question when Cousins stays out of foul trouble and is on top of his game. The Cats are the best rebounding team in the country because of Cousins, Patterson, and also Daniel Orton- who will be a super sophomore next season. When the Cats rebound, they win. It's that simple, and Cousins is their best rebounder. The only game this year that they have been outrebounded in was against South Carolina, the Cats only loss. They've shown that without John Wall, they can still play some of their best basketball, as evidenced in their 81-55 dominating win over LSU where John Wall only scored six points. In the first few minutes of yesterday's game against Alabama, Wall even cost the Cats as he played sloppy and out of control and made the first several of his six turnovers of the game. It should be noted that Wall ended up having a great game with 22 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, and a block. My point is, however, that DeMarcus Cousins very rarely does anything on the floor that hurts the Cats besides maybe his temper, which hasn't been a problem of late.

Many may wonder if this season has helped or hurt Patterson's draft status. Being around so many stars has lowered his numbers and made him look less like a superstar, but he has actually improved his overall game dramatically. He has discovered his outside shot that nobody knew he had in John Calipari's offense and practicing against Cousins and Orton everyday has prepared him for what it will be like going against the best of big men in the NBA, because Cousins will be one of them very soon. Very few college stars come straight into the NBA without paying their dues and working their way into the regular starting lineup. Cousins and Wall might be the exceptions to this next year, but Jodie Meeks is experiencing it right now and even Tayshaun Prince sat the majority of his first two seasons on the bench in Detroit before leading the Pistons to the World Championship. This season has shown NBA teams that Patrick is okay with not being the star player and will play in whatever role his coach asks him to. Patrick has been in this situation since high school when he played on the same team with O.J. Mayo at Hunnington (WV) High, then for two years at UK with Jodie Meeks, and now with John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. Patrick doesn't care what role he plays, he just wants to win, and he'll continue to be a winner at the next level.

Downey vs. Wall

As we celebrate the Cats #1 ranking today, take a minute to watch this week's segment of "This is Kentucky Basketball" featuring the Hoops for Haiti telethon.



As awesome as being ranked #1 is, the effort that this team gave to raise all that money is even more awesome. The more I watch this video, the more I love this team.

I am also pleased to announce that I was able to get 8 tickets to the ESPN College Gameday show. I logged on and tried to get tickets right at 10am, and of course, the server was down. At 10:12, I was able to get my tickets and the lower arena was ALREADY sold out. Big Blue Nation never ceases to amaze me. I wasn't sure if Rupp would be able to completely fill up or not, and there ARE still tickets left, but the fact that the whole lower arena was gone in 12 minutes tells me that it should be a packed house by the 13th. One thing is definitely certain: whatever the previous attendance of the show was, it's probably going to be about tripled at Rupp. I hope ESPN is prepared for this!

Note to Bobby Knight: I recommend you don't even show up. Knight wasn't in Clemson this weekend. Maybe I'm just a conspiracy theorist, or maybe if he didn't show up to a couple of Gameday shows it wouldn't make him look like a coward when the only one he missed was in Rupp...

News and Notes

• Another Cat won SEC Freshman of the Week (I know- shocker, right?). This week it was Demarcus Cousins. UK has already set an all-time season record for 10 SEC weekly awards this season- and there's still 12 conference games left.
• Calipari became the first coach in history to coach three different schools to a #1 ranking.
• The Downey vs. Wall/Bledsoe matchup tomorrow night is one that we have waited for since the start of the season. This game features, in my opinion, the three best point guards in the nation...all on the court at the same time. It should be a very entertaining game and very tough atmosphere for the Cats on the road.
• Downey is averaging 35 ppg in SEC play and the Gamecocks are coming off a heartbreaking loss at Florida, but big man Dominique Archie will be sidelined. The Cats will need to push it down low. Downey could be good enough to contain UK's guards, but Patterson, Cousins, and Orton will need to have big games if the Cats want to improve to 20-0.
• Seth Davis picked the Cats to lose this game a month ago to be our first loss. Hopefully the Cats prove him wrong, again.

The Softer Side of Demarcus Cousins

On the basketball court, Demarcus Cousins is a 270 pound beast. Off the court, he's a goober! He enjoys playing video games with 12 year old, Brad Calipari. His favorite cartoon you ask? That would be Dora the Explorer. His nickname? Boogie. Don't listen to those bitter Louisville fans, we love you Boogie!

The Day After

The day after perhaps the most physical battle of the UK-Louisville dream game, ever, I've had some time to digest everything that happened and here's what I think:

1. The Cousins play was way overblown and over exaggerated. How often do we see players get tangled up for a loose ball and a few kicks and shoves happen, both ways? It happens all the time, and is especially not uncommon in a rivalry game like this. And yes, Cousins took a knee to the head as well (as shown in the photo below). It was a good, physical game. If two other teams were playing and it wasn't involving Kentucky and a Calipari coached team, this would have been no big deal as far as the media is concerned. Period.


2. I believe that Louisville's players tried to instigate UK's young freshman and try to get them to lose their temper and control. From what I have heard and read from people at the game, Louisville's players were yelling obscenities, taunting UK's players and fans, and even crossing midcourt and purposely running through UK's layup lines before the game (which of course went unnoticed on CBS and the rest of the nation). For the most part, I think UK handled themselves very well.


3. I don't condone everything that UK did in the way that they handled themselves, but I do appreciate the fact that the incident with Cousins resulted because he was on the floor and fighting for a loose ball. I appreciate the physical game that he played, diving onto the floor for multiple loose balls, and grabbing 18 rebounds. Without that kind of physical play, UK losses this game. I also appreciate the fact that Cousins is physical on the court, and not off it, but I won't call out any other team in the state that has been involved in fights off the court recently.


4. Louisville fans need to move on. Instead of worrying about Kentucky and what we are doing 65 miles down the road, they should have some pride about their own team and realize there's still a lot to play for in the Big East and they have a team that can accomplish a lot. I attended the game last year at Freedom Hall and watched Edgar Sosa drain that shot to beat the Cats in the final seconds. I was surrounded by a sea of red Cardinal fans. But I walked out of Freedom Hall thinking that I might have seen one of the best UK/UofL games ever played. I took the loss with class and congratulated my UofL friends on the win. Why can't they act the same? .


5. It was a very sloppy game, by both teams. But in a game like this, all you can ask for is the "W" and Kentucky controlled their emotions enough to settle down and win this game. The Cats are now 15-0, their best start since the 1969-70 season.

The media will go out of their way to display UK's program in a negative image after even the smallest of incidents, like today's little scuffle between Cousins and Swopshire, but will let the actions of other coaches, players, and fans go unnoticed. The UK fans, by the way, couldn't have been classier, as there didn't seem to be a single reference to Karen Sypher the entire game. If a UK head coach was involved in a sex scandal, you better believe there would be chants in Freedom Hall as well as probably every student section in the SEC.

That's just the way it is though, and UK fans should probably just get accustomed from unfair treatment from the media and annoying, bitter rival fans. It also means one thing: the Cats are back! It has become "us against the world". And that's okay, says Coach Calipari, "We don't need anyone else. We have the Greatest Program in the World!"

News and Notes: 12-14-09

• Kentucky has now reached all-time win #1,998. They face Austin Peay on Saturday and then the December 21st matchup with Drexel will likely be win #2,000. Any ideas on finding tickets, anyone?
• John Calipari was contacted by Madison Square Garden officials about playing an annual home game there, after UK arguably had more fans than UConn and St. Johns combined, in their own backyard at the SEC/Big East Invitational last week against UConn. I would personally love to see a UK/Duke matchup at MSG, since Coach K won't come to Rupp.
• UK moved up to 3rd in both polls today and received one first place vote. #2 Texas faces UNC on Saturday, which could push the Cats into the #2 spot with a Tar Heel win.
• #1 ranked Kansas plays Michigan and California the next two games, then plays a solid Belmont team, then Temple (who just knocked off previous #3 Villanova), and then faces Tennessee on January 10th. Look for the Cats to be ranked #1 after these stretch of games for the Jayhawks.
• John Wall received SEC Freshman Player of the Week honors for the fourth consecutive week. This is a streak that might not last the entire season by John Wall, but I wouldn't be shocked if Cousins and Bledsoe contribute to this award being won by a UK freshman every single week of this season. Which is really, simply amazing.

Last but not least, I want to thank Kentucky Sports Radio for this Youtube video they posted. Really, really funny stuff!

Adolph Rupp is looking down and loving what he sees!

John Calipari became the first UK coach since Adolph Rupp in 1931 to start out 10-0 in his first season in what is possibly the most coveted job in all of college sports. He's doing it with speed, talent, hard work, focus, and discipline....just how Coach Rupp used to. Also like Coach Rupp, Calipari has a lot of controversey and false accusations surrounding him and his wins. Nobody likes a winner, and when other teams' fans are taking shots at Kentucky, it usually means one thing: all is well in Big Blue Nation.

In this case, it means "weee're baaack"- and win number 2,000 is just two games away!

In the last few years, Rupp probably wanted to roll out of his grave and have a word or two with Billy Gillispie, but now the legendary coach can rest in peace along with his friends, Caywood, and the one we affectionately knew as Mr. Wildcat. The Cats have beaten three schools who have won a combined 12 National Championships in an 8 day stretch, and all is well once again in Big Blue Heaven.

Not only did the Cats beat one of their biggest rivals on the road today in their first true road game to stay unbeaten, but they did it in convincing fashion. Indiana played their hearts out and punched the Cats right in the mouth early with a 9 point lead and Assembly Hall was rockin. They shot over 60% from the field and behind the arc as well in the first half, but UK kept knocking down shots as well, almost like a never-ending game of HORSE, and went into halftime with a one point lead. Indiana had tried to slow the game down and force the Cats to get into their halfcourt offense as opposed to running and pushing the ball up the floor, but the Cats slowed it down just a little bit and their halfcourt offense looked as efficient and well-run as it has all year.

It was probably their best overall performance of the season as a balanced scoring attack defeated Indiana 90-73. Five Wildcats scored in double figures and Darius Miller added a solid 7 points. Eric Bledsoe led the way with 23 points and Patrick Patterson had yet another double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. It was the first great game Bledsoe has had since the very beginning of the season when he was the team's starting point guard while John Wall was sitting out. When both Bledsoe and Wall are playing at their full potential together, on the court at the same time, this team is unstoppable. There simply isn't an effective way to defend these two guys when they are both playing under control and making shots while Patterson and Demarcus Cousins combine for their typical 20 rebounds in the post.

Demarcus Cousins grew up a little bit today too as he was in a situation that could have potentially started a fight. He simply put his hands up and walked away after tangling up with a Hoosier while battling for a loose ball. Even the turnovers were limited to only 13, which is pretty good considering the fast paced offense that we run. Wall had eight assists and only one turnover. There was hardly anything to get upset with today about the Cats' performance. Even Coach Cal was pleased!

"He actually said we were 10-0 today," freshman forward DeMarcus Cousins said. "I guess he was worried about that three game streak. We knew we were a good team but we're trying to prove it to everyone else." Coach Calipari said we would find out where we are as a team after this 3 game stretch. We did, indeed, learn how good this team is and it's probably better than most thought, even with the sky high expectations. It's been a while since we've heard much from Pat Forde. Interesting, huh? Now, the Cats must continue to bring it each night against lesser competition until that January 2nd matchup with "you know who".

Instructional video for DeMarcus Cousins

I love Boogie to death but good Lord, someone please tell him he does not have to shoot the ball once it is in his possession.  Hopefully he visits the site and watches this video......and then doesn't look me up on Facebook, find me out downtown, and absolutely beat me to shreds.  Big win tonight for the Cats.  I am sure Wilmhoff will give a recap here shortly.

I heart you Boogie!

Previewing Carolina and Kentucky

(Photo Courtesy of Kansascity.com...yeah, I know, random huh?)

If you havn't heard yet, there's a pretty big basketball game tomorrow.

It's between college basketball's two winningest programs that are both chasing each other to be the first to 2,000 all-time wins this season. I'm not sure if it's actually Kentucky vs. North Carolina, or Kentucky vs. The World; however, because it seems like the Cats still have a lot of doubters and a lot to prove to the college basketball world, despite their #4 ranking, 7-0 record, and the fact that they are a 3 point favorite in this game.

Yes, it's the first really big and nationally hyped-up game for Calipari's young team this year. On a national stage, it's almost like this is the real beginning of the Calipari era. North Carolina has certainly played a much tougher schedule to this point, but I'm really not sure if they've look much better than the Cats. UK had close calls against Miami (OH) and Stanford, but the Cardinal could end up actually being a solid team this year out of the PAC 10, only time will tell, and I'm not sure if there's any team in the country that would beat that red hot Miami team by double digits on that given night. But what about Carolina's lackluster 1st half performance against Florida International? What about their 11 point win over Valparaiso and their seven point win over Nevada? Oh yeah, they also lost to a rebuilding Syracuse team by 16 points. And if you think UK's defense has been bad, they've given up 7 less points per game this season than UNC has. After the amount of players the Tar Heels lost from a year ago, it seems to me that they have just as much to prove as Kentucky does. They're a young team too, not as young, but still a young team.

I'm not doubting UNC is as talented of a team that Kentucky will face this year and maybe their biggest test, but I'm not more worried about UNC than I am about a handful of other teams such as UConn, Louisville, Tennessee, and even Florida after their suprising start of the season. Don't get me wrong, this is a HUGE game for both teams, but it's not the end of the world either way. We could win and have the best feeling in the world about this team, but then we play UConn at Madision Square Garden a few days later and could lose to the Huskies. We could also lose to UNC, but then redeem ourselves against UConn. If Kentucky just wins 2 of their next 3, they shouldn't fall too much at all in the rankings, if at all.

I see this game playing out in a couple of ways. If UNC shoots anywhere close to the way that a couple of teams have already shot against the Cats behind the arc, UK could get embarassed and lose by double digits. If UNC has a good shooting day, coupled with a productive game in the paint (which UK has not seen from anyone yet), it could be a long day. If both teams are on top of their game, I see the Cats winning by single digits with John Wall making a clutch play to end it, maybe in the final seconds. If UK plays to their full potential, plays stiffling defense, limits turnovers, plays under control, and doesn't let the hype of Rupp Arena get to them....I see UK winning by double digits. Remember though, this is the first really big game that these freshman have played at Rupp, and I'm not sure if they really know what to expect or not. The key is for them to stay focused and not get too hyped up or destracted from a few certain celebrities that could be in attendance. They don't need to be running up and down the court at 200 miles per hour either. UNC is too good of a team to do that against, and they will force too many turnovers.

If I had to pick an outcome out of the previous possibilities already given, I believe the Cats guard play will be the difference in the game. Everyone knows that UNC has a great frontcourt. Everyone knows that UK has a great frontcourt as well. Both teams are very talented and very deep down low. Both teams' big men must stay out of foul trouble as well, especially Demarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson for UK and Deon Thompson for UNC. It's obvious, however, that UNC's guards are not at the same level as Kentucky's. The Carolina kid, John Wall, will save the day once again in the final seconds of this one as Kentucky wins a thriller at Rupp.

Cardiac Cats Survive in Cancun!

Twelve years ago, Kentucky and Stanford last met in an epic overtime battle in which the 1998 "Comeback Cats" came back from a double digit deficit to defeat the Cardinal in the Final Four in San Antonio.

This time, the Cats and Cardinal met again even further south than the Alamo, in Cancun, Mexico. Scott Padgett made clutch shots in the '98 game. This time, he sat on the bench on John Calipari's coaching staff in another overtime thriller between the two schools. John Wall, Eric Bledsoe, and Ramon Harris all made clutch plays down the stretch and Darius Miller added 10 points as the Cats outscored Stanford 10-2 in overtime to win it once again.

Patrick Patterson had limited playing time in the first half due to early foul trouble, but the Junior All-American came back and played strong in the second half while posting yet another double double, the 25th of his career, with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Demarcus Cousins had a solid 13 points and 3 blocks, but made a crucial freshman mistake late in the game that could have been costly for the Cats. Down by 2 at the line, Cousins missed the first free throw with about 10 seconds remaining on the clock. He then proceeded to miss the second free throw on purpose and tried to rebound it to get another shot to tie the game. This was foolish because if he had just made the free throw, Kentucky could foul immediately. Cousins was immediately pulled from the game and chewed out by Coach Cal on the sidelines. Even if Stanford made both free throws, it would be a three point game with plenty of time for UK to tie it up with a three. Now, Stanford could clinch the game if they could make both free throws.

Luckily for the Cats, they missed both free throws and Kentucky rebounded the ball still down by 2 with 9 seconds left. It was now time for John Wall to bail out his buddy Demarcus and take over to save the day for the Cats. He drove to the basket and was fouled with 2.4 seconds left. He nailed both free throws to tie the game up and finished the game with 24 points, including a perfect 8 for 8 from the line. Overtime belonged to the Cats as Eric Bledsoe stabbed the dagger on the Cardinal with a devastating NBA-range three pointer with 33 seconds left in OT to seal the deal for the Cats as they escaped Cancun with an unblemished 6-0 record, only seven wins away from becoming the nation's first program to reach 2,000 all-time victories.

Happy Thanksgiving! Go Cats! Let's FINALLY beat Tennessee!

(Photo's courtesy of bigbluehistory.net and the Associated Press)

One down, one to go!

I guess Kentucky had what you would call, "a moral victory" today on the basketball court against a good Rider team that beat Mississippi State about a week ago. For most schools, a moral victory is a game in which you don't win but play well and feel good about it. For Kentucky basketball, a win isn't good enough. A 10 point win isn't good enough either. At Kentucky, a moral victory is a 30 point win against a solid opponent, then...after winning be 30, it's okay to be happy.

The Cats had been playing well in just about every aspect but one: perimeter defense. In the last two games, the Cats gave up 33 three pointers. Today, they gave up 4. By the time Rider made their first three point shot, the Cats already had a 28 point lead in the second half. At one point, Demarcus Cousins even committed a foul on a three point attempt. I think they finally got the message and played with the defensive urgency that was absent the last two games.

Rider Head Coach, Tommy Dempsey's Comments:
"I know they have taken a bad rap for some of the three pointers that have gone against them, but I watched every game and a couple of kids went nuts against them. They hit tough, fall-away, in your-face threes. They gave up open shots, but you can't expect them to not give up open shots in the course of the game, especially when they are pressing, jumping in passing lanes, and trying to create offense with their defense. Of course when you play that way, you're going to give up open shots at times. I watched the film and said to myself, 'If we have to hit shots like that all night to stay in the game, it's going to be a long night.' Those were some spectacular performances, and I don't think it was strictly a product of Kentucky not playing defense. But, I did think they looked better tonight. They were active and their big kids were aggressive guarding the perimeter. They made it hard on us."

It was indeed a long day for Rider. John Wall led the way with 21 points and 11 assists, while Patrick Patterson had an impressive 19 points and 18 rebounds (the Sports Illustrated cover didn't seem to have a curse on him), and Cousins finished with 18 points and 5 blocks.

Game 1 for today went according to plan, now it's about time for Rich Brooks' football Cats to spoil the plans of the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens. With a win tonight, and (cross your fingers) an end to the streak against Tennessee next week, the Cats can finish 2nd in the SEC East behind only Florida. Coach Brooks says that he plans to unleash Newton tonight and open up the playbook for the talented true freshman. Randall Cobb is questionable, but I have a feeling he's going to go, even if he's limited, because this game is a chance to move up the SEC ladder. It's a game that is crucial to the advancement of this program. GO CATS!